What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the honorific prefix o, the noun kotowari (refusal/rejection) and the polite verb shimasu (to do).
Which one should you use?
While お断りします is a direct refusal of an action or proposal, 結構です is a more common, softer way to say "no thank you" to an offer of an object or service.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
お断りします is a polite and formal way to decline, making it suitable for business or professional settings. For even higher levels of politeness, you can use 申し訳ありませんが、お断りいたします to express an apology alongside the act of declining or 申し訳ございませんが、お断りさせていただきます which reflects a high level of politeness using the honorific form ございます and the humble form いただく. Conversely, 断る is the informal form suitable for casual conversations and 残念ながら、今回はパスするよ is an informal way to say "Unfortunately, I'll pass this time."
How do you pronounce it?
okotowari shimasu
Did you know?
- In Japanese business culture, saying お断りします directly can actually be seen as too aggressive or blunt. To maintain social harmony, people often use vague phrases like 検討させていただきます meaning 'I will consider it' as a polite-sounding way to signal a refusal.
- When using the humble form お断りさせていただきます, you are grammatically saying 'I will receive the favor of declining'. This structure places the speaker in a position of extreme humility toward the person being refused.
- The phrase お断り is used on signs in shops or restaurants to mean 'no entry' or 'no admittance' to certain customers.
Examples in context
- ご招待いただきまして、光栄ですが、この度はお断りさせていただきます。I am honored to have received your invitation, but unfortunately, I must decline this time.
- そのイベントには行きたいけど、他の予定があるから、残念ながら、今回はパスするよ。I want to go to that event, but I have another engagement, so unfortunately, I'll have to pass this time.
- 申し訳ないけど、ちょっと都合が悪くて…。Sorry, but I have some inconvenient circumstances…
- その提案はお断りします。Sono teian wa okotowari shimasu.I decline that proposal.
- 無理なお願いはお断りします。Muri na Onegai wa okotowari shimasu.I decline unreasonable requests.
- 勧誘はお断りします。Kanyuu wa okotowari shimasu.I decline solicitation.
Example conversation
Misaki turns down a dinner invitation from Yota.
- 陽太 Yota今夜、一緒に食事に行きませんか？Konya, issho ni shokuji ni ikimasen ka?Would you like to go out for dinner tonight?
- 美咲 Misakiすみません、今日はお断りします。Sumimasen, kyō wa okotowari shimasu.I'm sorry, I decline for today.
- 陽太 Yota残念ですが、分かりました。Zannen desu ga, wakarimashita.That's a shame, but I understand.
- 美咲 Misakiまた別の日に誘ってください。Mata betsu no hi ni sasotte kudasai.Please invite me another day.
